How to play when on the money bubble?

I just got back from my weekly Weds tournament at Oceans 11 where I finished 12th out of 101 players. The top 10 got paid.

When I went out I had 6 blinds left in my chip stack and was the BB. A player in mid-position raised all-in (he had about 20 blinds) and it folded round to me. There were large antes. I had A-J suited and had a decision to make. Do I let this guy attack my blinds and let it go because we are so close to the money or should I play back at him because I have a good hand and the possibility to double up on chips where I could maybe make a higher money position on the final table. I suspected he had a pair and I was behind. Applying the gap concept (from Sklansky) I knew I normally needed a bigger hand to call than he had to raise. After thinking through my options I called all-in.

Who knows if this was the right decision. He turned over 8-8 and my A-J suited did not improve so my tournament ended. Some guys on my table told me I did the right thing. Part of me feels I did the right thing. Reading Sklanskys "Tournament Poker for Advanced Players" suggest that maybe I should have waited. There were a few players with tiny chip stacks who may have been anted out before I would have been and I could have come home with some money (which surely is better than no money!).

I can never decide if its better to get in the money or not. Last month in Australia I finished 33rd in event #1 where the top 50 get paid. The difference in payout for 33rd spot to 10th spot makes me wonder if I did the right thing then also. Maybe I should have waited and anted round to make a bit more money. Most of the books I read say I am doing the right thing - its better to try to make the big money and fail than to limp into the smaller money.

But today I would have liked some of the smaller money....any money would be nice. When I look back on my tournaments should I be happy to have made 8 cashes out of 20 tournaments or 1 big cash out of 20 tournaments. I guess until I make that one big cash I will never know!!